The “Breaking Bad“ finale has finally arrived on AMC. But rest assured, Walter White‘s southwest meth odyssey likely won’t end “Sopranos“-style with “Don’t Stop Believin’” and a sudden cut to black. Fortunately, your friendly neighborhood denizens of the WSJ‘s Speakeasy blog are live blogging the “Breaking Bad” finale. Tune in for an occasional break from the tension and some instant analysis. Follow along and leave your thoughts in the comments. Be sure to keep your snow globes handy…

Finally, in a tense confessional between husband and wife, Walt shared the truth: There was no great, honorable motive. His adventures in the meth trade, his conversion to Heisenberg was, in the end, all about ego. “I liked it. I was good at it.” People died and lives were ruined so that Walt could feel alive.

I’m not so sure the coordinates to Hank’s burial ground is enough to get Skyler off the hook with the DEA. That seems like wishful thinking.

So as we move forward through the time line, Walt has a meeting with Lydia and Todd during which he pleads for money, promising a new formula that will free them of the need for methylamine. Poor Walt, that cough is getting worse and worse.

Of course we know he has the ricin which conveniently looks a lot like Stevia. Did Lydia just stir poison into her cup?

Marshall, I think you’re onto something there. Jesse’s been enduring quite the passion, if you will. And was that a dream sequence or a memory of more halcyon days, when he actually, uh, applied himself?

Meanwhile, I think we have an answer for whom Walt intended the ricin. More Stevia, Lydia?

And now we’re back at the beginning of season five: Mr. Lambert’s birthday. He’s got that big old gun in his trunk, the ricin out of the light socket, and he’s ready to rock and roll, even as he drifts through the ruins of his house.

Walt’s relatively paltry payoff of Badger and Skinny Pete (certainly not $200,000) reminded me of the great Sam Peckinpah film “Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia.” All of these high-priced contract killers are sent out with the promise of being paid hundreds of thousands of dollars, but poor Benny (Warren Oates) only gets offered ten grand.

Anyway, Walt is still dedicated to getting his drug money to his kids, and he’s using Gretchen and Elliott to do it. It’s actually a shrewd move on Walt’s part. Who would ask questions if they set some money aside for Flynn and Holly?

But true to Walt’s bitter pride, he won’t let them pay a cent out of their own pockets to cover any taxes or extra expenses.

Oh, but there’s a catch, quite a catch at that. Two of the best hitmen west of the Mississippi? Ha, no. Badget and Skinny Pete with laser pointers, of course.

Here’s my prediction, Mike: We see Walt and Jesse standing in the desert. Cancer-ravaged Walt coughs blood and trembles. Jesse slowly raises a gun. The camera pulls back, up up up and they both gradually become two minute specs in the vast wasteland of New Mexico. We deep into the universe “Men in Black”-style until the image twists and distorts and the stars become molecules. The image twists and distorts and we emerge from the cellular structure of a shard of vibrant blue crystal meth.

I just want to get my sole prediction out of the way for tonight, and I want you all to hold me to it: I don’t think there’s any way Walter Hartwell White makes it out of the finale alive. Not exactly a bold prediction, I know, but I know some folks out there on Team Walt are holding out for Mr. White to make it.

Oh yeah, I feel the butterflies, too, Marshall. “The electricity’s so thick, you can cut it with a knife,” as Gorilla Monsoon used to say. I’ll probably have to re-watch the finale later so I can absorb it all without feeling so amped up.

I’m going to get the ball rolling on the “Breaking Bad” finale live blog. I’ve been tweaking with psycho-levels of anticipation all weekend and need to vent. I want to point out that I am thirty years old. I am comfortably an adult. But I’ve had so much manic excitement leading up to tonight that throughout this bright and sunny day I re-watched, via YouTube, many my favorite WWF (I know, I know, it’s the WWE, but let’s be real) match-ups from my childhood. That’s a risky admission to make on a public platform owned by my employer…but so be it.

Comments (5 of 88)

"I do not understand why, shows like Sopranos, Dexter, and Breaking Bad end when they are on top of the ratings, winning Emmy awards and are the most talked about shows going. Doesn’t make sense to end them yet."

Writing and acting is an art. I think the writer was only concerned about telling a story. When a series ends because of low ratings, then perhaps other items were more important than the story.

9:48 pm October 2, 2013

Curious Fan wrote:

Why did Walt leave his wrist watch on top the pay phone in finale?

1:18 pm October 1, 2013

Rick Monroe, Devore,CA wrote:

Come on who is Vince Gilligan trying to fool. He wove the idea of the M60 Delta throughout the entire series. The caliber of the machine gun is .308. The same as Walt and Skyler's home address in New Mexico. It was an incredible stroke of genius or a fantastic coincidence. That kind of entertainment energy and chemistry will be sorely missed.

10:35 pm September 30, 2013

Mark Adelaide South Australia wrote:

This would have to be one of the best mini series for a long time ever.

8:46 pm September 30, 2013

Deb wrote:

Last comment was me. Greatest show about one of the worst drugs ever. Only in America.lol

About Speakeasy

Speakeasy is a blog covering media, entertainment, celebrity and the arts. The publication is produced by Barbara Chai and Jonathan Welsh with contributions from the Wall Street Journal staff and others. Write to us at speakeasy@wsj.com or follow us on Twitter at @WSJSpeakeasy or individually @barbarachai.